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Gun ditched during pursuit of person of interest in Clements murder found

By Ryan ParkerThe Denver Post

Posted:
04/05/2013 07:54:52 PM MDT

Updated:
04/05/2013 10:29:22 PM MDT

James Lohr (Provided by El Paso County Sheriff's Office)

The El Paso County Sheriff says a gun ditched by James Franklin Lohr as he was being pursued by police early Friday morning has been recovered.

Friday night, sheriff's investigators said they were looking for the gun tossed by Lohr, who is one of two men wanted for questioning in connection to the murder of the Colorado prisons chief.

Authorities released video surveillance showing Lohr, 47, a felon and member of the white supremacist 211 Crew prison gang, ditching the firearm during the pursuit Friday morning. The video also showed two men finding the gun and taking it.

But according to the sheriff's Twitter account, the gun was turned in Friday night by a person who received it from one of the people who picked up the weapon.

Lohr, who had three outstanding Colorado warrants in cases not related to the March 19 murder of Department of Corrections chief Tom Clements, was spotted by officers about 1:30 a.m. Friday leaving a business on Platte Avenue east of Union Boulevard, according to the sheriff's office.

Colorado Springs police officers tried to stop the vehicle Lohr was driving, but he took off, the sheriff's office said. Police pursued Lohr and his vehicle became disabled near Bijou Street and Hancock Avenue. He then ran off but was taken into custody without further incident at 3:35 a.m. in the 200 block of Cedar Street.

Lohr is one of two 211 Crew members investigators have been searching for in recent days in connection to the murder of Clements on March 21 at his Monument home.

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Law enforcement has not yet captured the second man, Thomas James Guolee, 31.